1-18-08, 9:34 am

MANAGUA, January 16— Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez proposed Wednesday the establishment of a regional integration mechanism to meet food consumption needs of Latin America, reported Prensa Latina.

During an address in the Nicaraguan capital to an auditorium of business executives, small-scale farmers and cooperative members, Chávez reviewed the prospects for cooperation in this sector between Venezuela and Central America.

Chávez said that in the same way Petrocaribe exists as a mechanism to provide oil under more favorable terms, a similar effort could be made to stimulate food production, an initiative that could be created at the upcoming Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA) summit to be held in Caracas January 24 and 25.

'Our calling is to convert Central America, the Caribbean into that great union envisioned by [Jose] Marti, a true world power, which can exist here if we join together. Separated, we remain divided and condemned to misery, backwardness, colonialism and dependency,' said Chávez.

In his exchange with Nicaraguan business executives, Chávez spoke on the central issues related to a world development crisis, pointing out that difficulties faced in the energy sector are at the centre of this crisis and would increase.

Referring to the energy crisis in Nicaragua, partially alleviated by Venezuelan assistance, Chávez announced the arrival in the coming days of new generators to complete the donation of 120 megawatts of capacity.

Chávez analyzed the results of his tour of the region, which also included Guatemala and Honduras and added that the presidency of Daniel Ortega had opened new possibilities for Central America.